Just the other day, a buddy of ours was lamenting the fact that you never see any of the sport vans from the 1970s – you know, the factory-built vans with wild graphics and Trendsetter side pipes and OWL tires. Then, like magic, this short-wheelbase 1974 Chevrolet G-series van with tri-tone stripes and five-spoke American Racing wheels (the latter most likely a more recent addition) showed up on Hemmings.com. From the seller’s description:

This ol’ beauty runs perfectly and is used only for hauling my race trailer to and from the track. 350 cubes, automatic trans with cooler, American mags and very decent tires. Located in Salt Lake City, UT.

18 Responses to “Hemmings Find of the Day – 1974 Chevrolet G10 van”

Custom vans are popping up on a number of websites and in magazines (even Hemmings) on a regular basis these days. It could be because of the upcoming 50th Anniversary of both the Ford Econoline and Chevrolet Corvan in 2011. There are over 100 custom van events in North America every year the largest one being the National Truck-In. In July close to 600 custom vans and panel trucks gathered in Greenwich New York (just 30 miles from the hallowed halls of Hemmings) for the 38th Annual National Truck-In. 200 vans had gathered at the same grounds on Memorial Weekend for the annual Lost Memorial Day Weekend van event. The most recent notable display of vans was at the Charlotte Auto Fair where custom vans were the main special attraction in the main building.
Custom vanning is thriving on the internet thanks to Vannin.com, Showvans.com, Vandomain.com and many other websites around the world. There are dozens of custom van groups and fan sites on Facebook,
As mentioned 2011 is a big year for custom vanning and we’re kicking off the fun in California Feb 19th in Buena Park for one of the largest van shows seen in the area in many moons. Once again you will be seeing custom vans in the 2011 World of Wheels/Autorama in Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City as well as the intro of one of the hottest vans ever built at the 2011 GNRS.

Check out my website Showvans.com to see some of the top vans of today.

Nice Van , I had a 66 ford super van in 75. Had the shag carpet and paneling on the inside. Mine was big enough to put a full size sofa in . Brings back real good memories!!! My friends called it the rolling cat house. This van is real clean but lacks the wild airbrush graphics that the vans of the day had. I currently own a 79 chevy g-10 with the 250 straight six which I use as a work van, I have spray painted the inside of the back and side glass white to hide my tools, put crazy stickers all over them to keep people occupied while sitting at traffic lights. Have been toying with the idea of making my “hippie work van” more of a car showpiece even though it has the six in it

This is fantistic, and in a price range that allows new car nuts to continue the hobby. I once had a Corvan and it was FUN! We tried to find panel trucks but they were all gone by then. This 74 is a very early edition, a 73-71? needs to have the engine lowered to change it, the first year of the nose on the van, front engine. There are not many left, I was wondering when these vans would come back if I lived long enough, “Keep On Vannin!”

that is a sweet looking van! It’s good to see vans coming back. Hopefully this time around they can lose the stereotype propogated by ignorant fools that they’re child molester vehicles. Anyone who’s ever actually owned or enjoyed vans knows how useful and fun they can be. So before making such comments, come to a van event and see for yourself. You might find yourself looking for a van just like this gem!

As a criminal defense attorney I deal with people’s numerous and absurd prejudices every day, and it isn’t easy, especially if you know they are wrong. I had an Astro van for a while in high school. It was a simple, basic one in gray with windows all around both sides. I went to pick up a friend from her job at a day care, and somebody called the cops on me while I waited for her to come out. If you take a van like that one, with no windows, painted like an ice cream truck to a day care, you will probably be talking to the cops if you stay around long enough. Not fair, but true. And also kind of funny.

Stories like this one from the heyday of vans certainly didnt help things.

Growing up my family had one of these with metallic paint and crazy colored stripes. Also had a circular window on the rear driver side, and slot mag wheels. In 1980 I was actually an embarrassed youngster hiding in the back. Today I would kill for it.

I have a 75 Dodge. The van events are the place to go! The 41st Van Nationals in Ohio next July 2013 will be the place to find parts and make connections with people with piles of parts. At the end of the day it is tough to find parts for these old vans. They have never been widely accepted as collectable. But I believe vans are making a comeback!